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Updated: June 24, 2025
The next forenoon, we saw a seal, and had a number of albatrosses about the ship: we now had strong gales from the north-east quarter, attended with snow and sleet. A heavy squall came on in the morning of the 5th, and in hauling down the main-top-mast staysail, the brails broke, and the sail was blown in pieces, the greatest part of which fell overboard before it could be got down and stowed.
At this precise moment, then, the Montauk was lying at a single anchor, not less than a league from the land, in a flat calm, with her three topsails loose, the courses in the brails, and with all those signs of preparation about her that are so bewildering to landsmen, but which seamen comprehend as clearly as words.
Forty-five of us did so, and went on board the sloop. After the Warren got under way, we went to quarters, manning both batteries. In this manner we stood down between the two French brigs, with top-gallant-sails furled and the courses in the brails. We passed directly between the two brigs, keeping a broadside trained upon each; but nothing was said, or done, to us.
It appeared as if they were about to crush the little frigate with their united weight. "Ready, lads!" shouted the captain of the "Pallas." "Clew up! Haul down!" Those magic words put every human being on board the frigate in motion. Tacks and sheets were let go. Some hauled away at the brails.
"Here, sir!" replied the second lieutenant; but his voice sounded like a whisper in the roar of the hurricane. "Double the hands on the outhaul!" added Terrill. "Stand by the brails!" "All ready, forward, sir!" reported Martyn. "Stand by the fore-sheets! Mr. Cleats!" continued the executive officer. "Here, sir!" said the old sailor, who, with the carpenter, was holding on at the weather-rail.
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